Introduction
According to Ministry of Manpower (MOM), every employer is responsible to take care of the maid’s health and well-being. You must provide your maid rest days, proper accommodation, adequate medical care and safe work conditions.
Rest Days
You should allow your maid to have one rest day every week. You and your maid must come to an agreement on which day of the week she should rest.
According to MOM, every employer must make sure their maids have at least one non-compensable rest day every month, starting on 1 January 2023.
You must compensate your maid with one of the following ways if she consents to work on the remaining rest days in the month:
- A minimum of one day’s salary, which is an additional payment and is not included in the maid’s basic salary.
- A substitute rest day to be taken within the same month.
You must allow your maid to take at least one rest day every month starting on 1 January 2023, and you must talk to her about how that day will be taken if she was paid in lieu of all of her rest days.
After discussion, update your maid’s number of rest days in FDW eService.
Flexible rest days can be taken to meet the requirements of employers and maids:
- The rest day may be split up into two half days or taken as one full day.
- The maid may decide to stay at home on her rest day.
The maid’s rest day may be postponed by up to one month if she is unable to take it in a particular month. This means that by the end of the following month, the maid must take her day off.
To learn more about the rest day requirement, read the press release on mandatory rest days for migrant domestic workers.
Initial Challenges
Some of the challenges that a new maid from a remote region could have include:
- Communication and comprehension in your language
- Using advanced household appliances
- Getting used to staying in tall buildings
- Practicing several methods in taking care of kids
She needs time to become accustomed to your way of life. You can assist by giving her the proper orientation and training, particularly in the beginning of her work.
Accommodation
The following specifications for your maid’s lodging must be met:
Adequate shelter: The accommodation provided for your maid must appropriately shield her from environmental elements, such as the sun, rain or strong winds.
Basic amenities: You must at least give your maid a mattress, pillow, blanket, toiletries and bathroom supplies. Toiletries include things like soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste and so on.
Adequate ventilation: You must make sure that your maid’s accommodation is adequately ventilated. If natural ventilation is insufficient, mechanical ventilation such as an electrical fan, must be provided.
Safety: You must not let your maid to sleep close to any potentially harmful machinery or structures.
Modesty: Your maid must not share a room with a male adult or teenager. You must inform your maid the location of video recording devices if you have installed them at home. They cannot be placed in places where they will invade her privacy or modesty, such as her bedroom, dressing place or the bathroom.
Space and privacy: You should prepare a room for your maid. If it isn’t possible, you need to make sure her accommodation has enough room and privacy.
Sufficient Food
Three meals must be given to your maid every day.
The following shows an example of daily food intake for a female who does moderate activity:
- Breakfast: Four slices of bread with spread.
- Lunch: One bowl of rice, three-quarter cup of cooked vegetables, a palm-sized portion of meat (fish, chicken, beef or lamb) and fruit.
- Dinner: One bowl of rice, three-quarter cup of cooked vegetables, a palm-sized portion of meat (fish, chicken, beef or lamb) and fruit.
Be considerate of your maid’s dietary requirements. Don’t make your maid to consume something she isn’t supposed to or doesn’t like. For instance, your maid could not be acclimated to your family’s dietary preferences, such as vegetarian food or porridge, or she might not be able to eat certain foods due to her religious convictions.
Medical Care
You as an employer, are liable for your maid’s medical needs.
You must purchase a medical and personal accident insurance for your maid before she starts working with you. You must also pay the full cost of any medical care, including hospitalization for her.
Open Communication
Your maid leaves her family and come to Singapore to work for you, sometimes she may feel lonely and homesick. By showing her how to get in touch with her family and how to send letters home, you can help her to overcome these emotions.
Family Integration
Make every effort to include your maid in your family. You can accomplish that by showing her compassion, tolerance and an effort to comprehend her past.
Safe Work Conditions
You must always make sure that your maid works in a safety environment. She must adhere to the approved work practices outlined in MOM’s training manuals and programs (such as the Employer’s Orientation Programme).
